West Ham United plot Dario Osorio swoop

West Ham United are reportedly set to launch a £7.5 million bid this week to secure to the signature of Universidad de Chile sensation Dario Osorio.

According to The Sun, West Ham are expected to table a £7.5 million bid for Universidad de Chile winger Dario Osorio, who is also on the radar of AC Milan and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

With Declan Rice’s sale to Arsenal set to raise record funds, the Hammers are already drawing up a shopping list as they plan how they are going to spend the huge cash injection. David Moyes will clearly be keen to bolster his attacking department at the London Stadium this summer, with more talent required.

Although a whole host of first-team stars are expected to arrive in East London this summer, the Hammers are also targeting a completely different profile of players following the recent arrival of Tim Steidten as technical director.

The former Bayer Leverkusen transfer supremo has first-hand experience bringing in South American talent and developing future stars and could employ a similar strategy at West Ham to enrich the underbelly of Moyes’ squad.

West Ham are lining up a move for Chile wonderkid Dario Osorio, as they look to beat AC Milan to the winger.

Osorio has already turned down a move to Brazil because he wants to come to Europe.

It seems as though the hammers have set their sights on a very special young talent as they look set to lodge a sizeable bid for Universidad de Chile starlet Osorio. The 19-year-old made his professional debut for the Chilean outfit back in February last year.

Since then, the teenage sensation has made 44 senior appearances for his side and has notched eight goals. Regarded as a talent with generational potential and comparisons to Alexis Sanchez in his homeland, the left-footed Osorio is ultra-versatile and can operate on either flank or in a deeper midfield role on either side of a three.

The full-fledged Chile international is clearly a man in demand and has turne down a move to Brazil because he wants to come to Europe from his current side. He seems to be a very good player for his age. And if the Hammers can act quickly, they can secure his services.

While there is no denying the fact that they need more senior competition for Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen on the left and right wings, a low-cost deal for a future star would do little harm to their budget.

If West Ham do sign Osorio, it will be interesting to see whether or not the South American sensation will be deemed a capable enough first-team addition or will spend some time with the development squad to get used to a completely new environment.

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However, there remain plenty of plotlines that remain left open. Potential outgoings, injury statuses and where the new additions could play all could be found out as training commences. With that in mind, football.london takes a look at the top five things that supporters should be looking out for in any released footage from the return of training.

Granit Xhaka in limbo

Despite Granit Xhaka telling football.london that his future would be resolved prior to the game against Wolves, we remain in the dark regarding a move to Bayer Leverkusen that has been touted. Even with an agreement with West Ham over a price for Declan Rice and a move edging toward completion, there appears no immediate resolution to Xhaka’s future.

So much so that with a return to training looming, Xhaka might have to return to London Colney when perhaps he did not expect to. Xhaka started both of Switzerland’s European Championship qualifiers against Andorra and Romania and so will not be one of the first to return so there remains time for a deal to be done.

Folarin Balogun’s unresolved future

Folarin Balogun started and scored in the CONCACAF Nations League final against Canada for the United States and yet still where his football will be played in 2023/24 remains a mystery.

His goals on loan in France would indicate he’s ready to play regularly at the top level. But he faces serious competition in Gabriel Jesus and there’s no guarantee of minutes which could force him out.

That said, with him back to train soon perhaps he’ll have his head convinced to stay with the group.

Kai Havertz was a disappointment in the end with Chelsea, and perhaps much of that was down to how he was used

Images in training are sure to reveal if indeed he is being used in something of a midfield role. Although it will be tricky to confirm until we get into the pre-season fixtures.

William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu’s return

Both William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu missed the end of last season with serious injuries to their back and knee respectively. Mikel Arteta was asked if the Frenchman would be ready for pre-season and replied: “It’s probably too early to say. I think he’s evolving the right way, the last few weeks have been much more positive than the previous two months.”

On Tomiyasu he said: “I think he will be really close, hopefully, he will be around in pre-season like Willy [Saliba] to be in a good place.”

In short, training will be a chance to keep an eye out for the pair to assess whether or not they might be ready for the trip to Germany and if not the United States.